VALEDICTORY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12896, 6 February 1906, Page 7

VALEDICTORY.

To bid farewell to Mr It. iL Taylor, ■who was leaving for a trip to England, •about a score of the leading business men ■of Timam gathered at the railway station .yesterday. The Mayor, Mr Craigie, was appointed to the chair, and explained how 11, to allow Mr Taylor io go a..'.iy without giving him a good sendoff, ;..nd wishing him a pleasant voyage and ;■ safe .return. In explanation of the anu—wss. of the gathering, he' suggested! that liere must have been a misuitderstanaiiig lis to the train, as most people «« ia the afternoon. Mr Taylor had !)oj. a.; excellent - citizen of "Emaru, where Is-' lived for 42 years; the .speaker had known him for nearly the whole of that time, and knew -that although he avoided public life, Mr Taylor bad always been ready with a helping hand when it was needed. He. had led a quiet life, reading well and much, and Mr Craigie found much to respect in their guest. Along with public life, he had avoided that other pitfall of matrimony, but they were quite prepared to give a Mrs Taylor , a hearty welcome when he returned to New Zealand. He proposed the health of- Mr Taylor. The toast was drunk with musical honours.

Mr] 'W. Evans said that, when he was" arranging for' this gathering he found Mr Taylor's friends; everywhere, in the .town, and could have gathered a big assembly, given a suitable opportunity. A large number of them had subscribed to purchase a memento for him to take away yrj&li him>- and the. speaker had great .plear sure in handing them over—a pair of pris-' niatic binoculars, a .sovereign case, and a match box—to remind him of his long residence iii Timaru. I He was-sure, MrTTary r lor; would coine back; because "he would; find when he got- Home that the climate of : ,the Mackenzie Country was preferable to that of London: M J. .Jackson, who bad known the d«-' part ng . guest for 40 years,, said Sir Taylor 'oeen a good friend ever;siaee they had worked together, the speaker an'-a subordinate position. He fully endorsed the remarks; of previous speakers.: . • • - Mr R. H. Bowie recalled his . partnership with Mr Taylor, and recounted some of the vicissitudes .they; experienced in business during the hard times Timaru went-.through in£;the old. days. He congratulated Mr Taylor on taking the holiday, and extended iiie, best wishes. f yMr Hole-very-briefly added his endorsement to ..the sentiments expressed. r '.-Mr Taylor "responded, saying he had no ..he had -so many friends to be sorry he'was leaving the town. To be covered withhonour by so many who-had taken an active part in advancing the -welfare of.the town made him ashamed of his retiring-' and 'somewhat selfish mode of life. He was very proud to have gained their good" opinion and to accept thejr gifts as kioi's of it-. If on the pother sidefife wor'd the lenses of the ijglassesj'w&e.Vsndt strong enough to show hint -New Zealand,' he would yet ba reminder}- of during the enjoyment he would derive-from-their "use,, and he would * remember - bright maru, and his many friends''there.l The gathering broke np\ tho"toast of " The Mayor, the the meetings." As hearty cheers were given YfrMr-TaylorT